Tab stop for watchband tube end

ABSTRACT

A flexible, nonexpansible metal watchband in which each of the tube ends on the band carries a single, centrally located tab on the underside thereof for engaging the underside of the watchcase when the band tends to drop vertically downwardly under the influence of gravity as the case is held face up, thus to limit the movement of the band to a position at which sharp corners on the band do not extend above the case.

J United States Patent-- Inventors Louis Gluck New York, N.Y. .John G. Siska, Cresskill, NJ. App]. No. 747,349 Filed Ju'y 24, 1968 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 Assignee Kreisler Manufacturing Corporation North Bergen, NJ. a corporation of Delaware. by mesne assignments TAB STOP FOR WATCHBAND TUBE END 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 224/4 Int. Cl A440 5/14 244/49,

Field ofSearch .21..

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,687,365 10/1928 Dike 224/49 2,823,524 2/1958 $16161 224/49 FOREIGN PATENTS 627,070 2/1963 Belgium 224/49 511,181 9/1920 France.... 224/49 852,771 11/1939 France 224/4.9 784,646 10/1957 Gl'eflIBl'itfiitl 224/49 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerRobert J. Spar Attorney-Shenier & O'Connor ABSTRACT: A flexible, nonexpansible metal watchband in which each of the tube ends on the band carries a single, centrally located tab on the underside thereof for engaging the underside of the watchcase when the band tends to drop vertically downwardly under the influence of gravity as the case is held face up, thus to limit the movement of the band to a position at which sharp corners on the band do not extend above the case.

PATENIEU JAN 1 2 um INVENTORS Lou! 5 G/uck Y 7r) G. S/ska H T TOPN E Y5 TAB sror ron WATCHBAND TUBE END BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION There are known in the prior art flexible and semiflexible, nonexpansible metal watchbands formed as chains or as chainlike structures. T e ends of the band may be cut to conform to the shape of the case and spring pin receiving tube ends are soldered or otherwise secured to the underside of the band adjacent the ends thereof. Alternatively, decorative fittings or adapters carrying the tube ends are attached to terminal links of the band.

Whichever of the two methods described above for at-' taching the band to the watchcase is employed, the structure so far described embodies an undesirable characteristic. In use therewith and in whih like. reference numerals a us of bands of this type with the watch held face up, portions of the band adjacent the case hang straight down. This characteristic of the band is undesirable for a number of reasons. First, this disposition of the band makes it relatively incon- Other andfurther objects of our invention will appear from held face upto prevent the band from'assuming a position at which sharp comers thereof extend above the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, which form part'of the in stant specification andWhich are to be read in conjunction to indicate like partsin the various views:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the-underside of a watchcase towhich a band provided with ourtube end stop lugs is secured.

venient to slip over the wrist. Secondly, and perhaps more im-.' FIG 2 is an elevation of a watchcasg and band assembly portant, in this condition of the band sharp comers thereof adjacent the case extend above thecase to positions at which the possibility exists that a person handling the band may scratch or cut himself. Obviously, also, with the band so disposed, it loses its attractive appearance.

At least one attempt has been made in the priorart to overcome the problems outlined above. Either the tube ends of the band or the decorative adapters at the band ends are formed with pairs of small laterally extending ears adapted to engage the undersides of the spring pin receiving lugs on the watchcase. This construction, however, has not proved Thus, special structures must be made for the respective widths of bands to which it is to be applied. Owing to the loca-. tion of the ears, the band is not as comfortable as. is desirable. The construction makes the operation of attaching the tube end to the watchcase relatively difficult.

We have invented a tab stop for a watchband tube end which overcomes the defects of tube end structures of the prior art. Our arrangement, prevents sharp corners of the band from extending beyond the watchcase when the band is off the wearers-wrist. It makes the watchbandeasier'to don. Our tab end structure is simpler and less expensive to manufacture than are structures of the prior artintended to achieve the same purpose. A. watchband incorporating our tabstop is more comfortable than are watchbands incorporating stop structures of the prior art. A tube end incorporating ourtab stop is readily adaptable towatchcases requiring 'tab'ends of different sizes. A tube end incorporating our tab stop is easier to assemble on a watchcase than is a tube endincorporating astop structure of theprior art.

SUMMARY on THE INVENTION One object of our invention is to provide atab stopfor a watchband tube end which prevents the band from assuming a; position in which sharp corners thereof extend above. the watchcase.

Another object of our invention-is .to provide a tab-stop for a provided with ourtube end stop tabs. w

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation 'of a watchband-provided with our tube end stop tab. I r

FIG. 4 is a side'elevation of a watchcase and band assembly illustrating the problem solved by our construction.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the watchband and caseassembly shown in FIG. 4 taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTIONOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings. awatchcase; indicated" generally by the reference character-10, includes respective pairs. of spaced, outwardly extending spring pin-receiving lugs or cars 12 and 14. One form of band which may be provided with ourtube end stop-tabs'includes two-halves l-8and 28', the

end of each of which is cut to confonn to the shape of the watchcase 10which. in the particular embodiment illustrated v in the drawings, is circular. As a result, there are formed two sharp corners: 20 and 22. It will readily be appreciated'that in' other-forms of bands for use with square or rectangular securedzin any suitable manner to the; end of the band, the-f adapter likewise hassharpcomers similarto the comers 20* and 22..-

A pair of spring pins 16 are provided for assembling theband halves l8 and 28 to the watchcase: 10. We secure-apim receiving tube 2410 the end of each of the bandhalvesl8 and 28 by any suitable means: For example, a flange o'n-ther't'ube 24 may be soldered or brazed to theundersid'e-of the band'fadijacentthe end. To secure the band-halves-tothe case; a-spri'ng pin. 16 is inserted in 'eachof the tubes 24=-The.- tube'the'rii'is positioned between the lugs 12 and I4 and-ends of: thespringpin-are inserted into holes (not shown) in thelugs.

In the conditionof the 'parts-just-describdi' with-the watchcase-IO held: face up, as shown in FIG. 4;.the-bandhalves l8 and-28 drop under the influence of gravityto positions-at which' they extend generally vertically downwardly. In this position of the parts and in the absence'of-our-stop tabcoristruction, to bedescribed, the sharp corners 20 and 22 arein positions wherein they mayaccidntally be struck by a watchband tube end which overcomes the defectsof stop handling the assemblysothat'he y scl'atiihbf'wtihlmselfi We secure a respective stop tab 26 to each-of the-tubes 24"at a location generally at the center of the tube. mayibe a'ccomplished'in any'suitable manner such,- for' example, as by.

solderingor brazing a small flange on the tab to the tube flange. In achieving this 'operationand before. th'e'bandlis: adapted to the wrist of a particularwearer, we leavethetab 26' in the position indicated for the tab associated with the: band half 18 in-FIG. 2. The tab 26 is formed from any suitable sheet metal which will permit it to be bent to a desiredzpositionisuchas that indicated for the tab 26 associatedfwiththeband half 1 which will make the band most comfortable on the wrist of the wearer.

In operation of our tab stop, when the watch is removed from the wearers wrist, the band halves l8 and 28 tend to drop downwardly so as to occupy a generally vertical position. As the band halves drcp downwardly, tabs 26 engage the underside of the case 10 to prevent further movement of the band halves. As can be seen in FIG. 2, in this position of the band halves, the portions adjacent the watchcase extend generally horizontally outwardly and the sharp corners and 22 are retained in the space between the lugs 12 and 14 so that they cannot project upwardly to positions at which they might cut a person handling the watch. Moreover, owing to the fact that they occupy this position, the relatively unattractive end of the band is substantially concealed from view. Since our tab is generally centrally located, the operation of removing the band half from the watchcase and that of replacing it are relatively simple since the ends of the spring pin are readily accessible. Owing to the fact that the tab is centrally located, it is not in a position in which it will engage the wearers wrist when the watch is in use. Consequently, it will not discomfort the wearer.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a tab stop for a watchband end which prevents sharp corners of the band from being exposed when the watch is removed from the wearer's wrist. Our stop tab for a watchband tube end overcomes the disadvantages of tube end stop arrangements of the .prior art. It is readily adapted to tube ends'intended for a range of watchcase sizes. It does not interfere with the operation of assembling the band on the watchcase. It is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. A band incorporating our stoptab construction is more comfortable than is a band incorporating the stop structure of the prior art.

lt will be understood that certain features and subcombina- 1 tions are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This'is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. lt is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

We claim: J

1. A watchband for use with a watchcase having a curved outline configuration, said watchcase having pairs of spaced lugs including in combination, a first watchband portion formed of flexible metallic material, a second watchband portion formed of flexible fnetallic material, each of said watchband portions having an end with a curved configuration across the length of the portion, said end configuration being complementary to said curved outline configuration, said curved ends forming sharp comers at the edges of the band portions, means including respective pin-receiving tubes secured to the undersides of said band portions adjacent to but longitudinally spaced from said corners for mounting said band portions for swinging movement on said watchcase and single centrally located tabs carried by said tubes and extending inwardly under said watchcase to limit movement of said portion ends to positions at which said corners are below the upper surface of said watchcase.

2. A watchband as in claim 1 in which said tabs are formed I of bendable material. 

1. A watchband for use with a watchcase having a curved outline configuration, said watchcase having pairs of spaced lugs including in combination, a first watchband portion formed of flexible metallic material, a second watchband portion formed of flexible metallic material, each of said watchband portions having an end with a curved configuration across the length of the portion, said end configuration being complementary to said curved outline configuration, said curved ends foRming sharp corners at the edges of the band portions, means including respective pin-receiving tubes secured to the undersides of said band portions adjacent to but longitudinally spaced from said corners for mounting said band portions for swinging movement on said watchcase and single centrally located tabs carried by said tubes and extending inwardly under said watchcase to limit movement of said portion ends to positions at which said corners are below the upper surface of said watchcase.
 2. A watchband as in claim 1 in which said tabs are formed of bendable material. 